JP2008295736A - Folding chair - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a folding chair from naturally deploying from a folded state without weight increase or enlargement in the folding chair with links. <P>SOLUTION: This folding chair is provided with link attachment seats 45 provided in the lower face of a seat part 13, and links 24 rotatably supported to the link attachment seats 45. The link attachment seat 45 is formed with an elastic projection piece 45C and a slit groove 45E. The link is formed with a link-side projection 24E in the outer circumference part in its root side. When folding the folding chair, the links are rotated, the link-side projections 24E push the elastic projection pieces 45C to be fitted in the slit grooves 45E, so that the folding chair is locked in a folded state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a folding chair used mainly when an elderly person, a disabled person, or the like takes a shower in a bathroom.

  In general, since the bathroom is small, a folding chair that can be folded and compacted when not in use is often used as a chair used in the bathroom. Patent Document 1 discloses such a folding chair.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the folding chair disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a front leg (hereinafter referred to as a first frame member) 102 having a horizontal portion that supports a seat portion 104 while a backrest 105 is attached to an upper end portion thereof. A rear leg (hereinafter referred to as a second frame member) 103 rotatably supported at a substantially intermediate position of the horizontal portion of the first frame member 102, and a seat supported by the first frame member 102 and the second frame member 103. Unit 104. Reinforcing rods 261 extending in the left-right direction are bridged between the left and right first frame members 102, and between the left and right second frame members 103 and obliquely below the reinforcing rods 261 of the first frame member 102, A reinforcing rod 136 of the second frame member 103 is bridged. A rear portion of the seat portion 104 is rotatably supported by a reinforcing rod 261 of the first frame member 102, and the seat portion 104 is rotatable in the vertical direction around the reinforcing rod 261. In addition, the rear end portion of the seat portion 104 and the reinforcing rod 136 of the second frame member 103 are connected via a link 106.

  When folding the folding chair, the front end of the seat 104 is lifted upward. Then, the link 106 between the rear end portion of the seat portion 104 and the reinforcing rod 136 of the second frame member 103 receives a downward force from the rear end portion of the seat portion 104, and the force is applied from the link 106 to the second frame. The second frame member 103 is pushed down by being transmitted to the member 103. As a result, the first frame member 102 and the second frame member 103 approach each other, and the seat portion 104 rotates around the reinforcing bar 261 of the first frame member 102 to be in an upright state. As described above, this type of folding chair can be easily folded by applying force only to the seat portion 104 without applying force to the seat portion 104 and the second frame member 103 separately.

By the way, in the folding chair, it is necessary to prevent the folding chair from being unfolded naturally due to its own weight or the like when it is self-supported in the folded state. In the folding chair, the seat portion 104 and the link 106 are folded into a square shape in the folded state, and the connection point 106 a between the link 106 and the seat portion 104 is a connection point (reinforcement rod) between the link 106 and the first frame member 102. 261) and a segment connecting the link 106 and the second frame member 103 (reinforcing rod 136) is positioned on the front side. Thereby, it is suppressed that a folding chair expand | deploys independently from a folding state.
JP 2007-37608 A

  However, in the folding chair, when the connecting point 106a moves to the rear side of the line segment, it is unfolded by the weight of the seat portion 104, so that only a slight force is applied to the seat portion 104. There is a risk of deployment. On the other hand, in order to actively prevent unfolding alone, a method of adding a new member to the folding chair and forming a lock mechanism is also conceivable. However, when such a lock mechanism is added, the number of parts increases, which causes the weight and size of the folding chair to increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the purpose of the present invention is to allow the folding chair having a link to be naturally expanded from a folded state without causing an increase in weight and size. It is to prevent.

  The folding chair according to the present invention includes a pair of left and right first frame members having a front leg portion and a horizontal portion extending rearward from the upper end of the front leg portion, and a horizontal portion extending forward from the rear leg portion and the upper end of the rear leg portion. A pair of left and right second frame members rotatably connected to the first frame member about a horizontal axis, and one of the first frame member and the second frame member. , A seat that is rotatably coupled around a horizontal axis and supported by the horizontal portion of the first frame member and the horizontal portion of the second frame member, the first frame member, and the second frame member A link bar extending in the left-right direction from the other frame member, a link mounting seat provided on the back side of the seat, and one end rotatably connected to the link bar around a horizontal axis, and the other end But The rotation of the seat relative to the one frame member, and the relative rotation between the first frame member and the second frame member, which are rotatably attached to the link attachment seat around a horizontal axis. And a link-side projection that pivots around the horizontal axis when the other end side of the link rotates around the horizontal axis on the other end side of the link. The link mounting seat is provided with at least a groove extending in the left-right direction and an elastic protrusion adjacent to the groove in the front-rear direction, and the other end side of the link rotates when folded, and the link-side protrusion is The elastic protrusion is pushed down and fitted into the groove, thereby being locked in a folded state.

  Another folding chair according to the present invention includes a pair of left and right first frame members having a front leg portion and a horizontal portion extending rearward from the upper end of the front leg portion, and a front leg extending from the upper end of the rear leg portion and the rear leg portion. A pair of left and right second frame members having a horizontal portion, a seat portion supported by the horizontal portion of the first frame member and the horizontal portion of the second frame member, and the front legs of the left and right first frame members A link bar extending in the left-right direction from the portion, a midway portion in the front-rear direction in the horizontal portion of the first frame member, and a midway portion in the front-rear direction in the horizontal portion of the second frame member are rotatable about a horizontal axis. A first connecting portion to be connected; a second connecting portion that connects the front end portion of the horizontal portion of the second frame member and the seat portion so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis; and a rear side of the seat portion and the first portion. From 2 connecting parts A link mounting seat provided on the front side, a link having one end rotatably connected to the link bar around a horizontal axis and the other end rotatably connected to the link mounting seat around a horizontal axis The link is provided with a link-side protrusion that pivots around the horizontal axis when the other end of the link rotates about the horizontal axis on the other end of the link. The mounting seat is formed with at least a groove extending in the left-right direction and an elastic protrusion adjacent to the groove in the front-rear direction. When folded, the other end of the link rotates, and the link-side protrusion pushes down the elastic protrusion. By being fitted into the groove, it is locked in a folded state.

  When each of the folding chairs is folded, the other end side of the link rotates while being supported by the link mounting seat, and at that time, the link side projection fits into the groove by pushing down the elastic projecting piece of the link mounting seat. Thereby, the folding chair is locked in the folded state. Thus, according to each of the above folding chairs, since the lock mechanism is configured by the link and the link mounting seat, it is not necessary to provide a new lock mechanism separately, and the folded state is achieved without increasing the weight and size. Can prevent natural development from.

  The link mounting seat and the link may be made of plastic.

  Thereby, weight reduction of a folding chair can be promoted.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the folding chair which has a link, natural expansion | deployment from a folded state can be prevented, without causing weight increase and enlargement.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the folding chair 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of left and right first frame members 41, a pair of left and right second frame members 42, the first frame member 41 and the first frame member 41. The seat part 13, the backrest 14, and the armrest 15 supported by the 2 frame member 42 from the downward direction are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first frame member 41 includes a front leg portion 11 and a horizontal portion 16 extending rearward from the upper end of the front leg portion 11. At the rear ends of the left and right horizontal portions 16, a back frame 17 having an inverted U shape in plan view is provided (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, the left and right first frame members 41, 41 and the backrest frame 17 are integrated, and are formed of a single aluminum pipe except for a non-slip cap 11E and a lower pipe 11B described later. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the front leg portion 11 includes a lower pipe 11B and an upper pipe 11A inserted into the lower pipe 11B. The upper pipe 11A is provided with an insertion pin 11D that protrudes outward in the radial direction. The insertion pin 11D is urged outward from the inside of the upper pipe 11A. A plurality of stop holes 11C are formed in the lower pipe 11B, and an insertion pin 11D is inserted into any of the plurality of stop holes 11C. In the folding chair 10, the insertion amount of the upper pipe 11 </ b> A with respect to the lower pipe 11 </ b> B can be adjusted by the insertion pin 11 </ b> D and the stop hole 11 </ b> C, and thus the length of the front leg portion 11 can be adjusted. That is, while pushing the insertion pin 11D into the upper pipe 11A, the lower pipe 11B is slid with respect to the upper pipe 11A, and the stop hole 11C with which the insertion pin 11D is engaged is changed as appropriate, whereby the length of the front leg portion 11 is increased. Can be adjusted. Furthermore, a rubber anti-slip cap 11E is attached to the lower end of the lower pipe 11B. The anti-slip cap 11E prevents the front leg portion 11 from slipping on the floor.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a support bar 19 extending in the left-right direction is bridged between front portions of the horizontal portion 16 of the left and right first frame members 41. As shown in FIG. 1, an L-shaped link bar 18 is bridged between the upper portion of the left front leg portion 11 and the left portion of the support bar 19. Specifically, the left end of the left link bar 18 is joined to the upper part of the left front leg 11, and the upper end of the left link bar 18 is joined to the left part of the intermediate position of the support bar 19. Similarly, an L-shaped link bar 18 is also bridged between the upper part of the right front leg 11 and the right part of the support bar 19.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the second frame member 42 includes a rear leg portion 12 and a horizontal portion 21 that extends forward from the upper end of the rear leg portion 12. In the present embodiment, the left and right rear leg portions 12 and the horizontal portion 21 are integrated with each other and formed by a single aluminum pipe. That is, each second frame member 42 is formed by one pipe. As shown in FIG. 4, rear support bars 22 extending in the left-right direction are bridged around the rear portions of the left and right horizontal portions 16. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a lock bar 20 extending in the left-right direction is bridged between the rear end portions of the left and right horizontal portions 16.

  As shown in FIG. 4, rotating seats 13 </ b> A are attached to the left and right end portions of the lower surface of the seat portion 13. A front end portion of the horizontal portion 21 of the second frame member 42 is rotatably supported on the rotating seat 13A. Therefore, the second frame member 42 is rotatable with respect to the seat portion 13 via the rotating seat 13A. A midway portion of the horizontal portion 16 of the first frame member 41 and a midway portion of the horizontal portion 21 of the second frame member 42 are coupled by a rotary shaft 23 so as to be rotatable around the horizontal axis.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the rear leg portion 12 can be adjusted in length similarly to the front leg portion 11. The rear leg 12 also has a lower pipe 12B and an upper pipe 12A inserted into the lower pipe 12B. The upper pipe 12A is provided with an insertion pin 12D protruding outward in the radial direction, and the insertion pin 12D is urged outward from the inside of the upper pipe 12A. A plurality of retaining holes 12C are formed in the lower pipe 12B. The insertion amount of the upper pipe 12A with respect to the lower pipe 12B can be adjusted by the insertion pin 12D and the stop hole 12C, whereby the length of the rear leg portion 12 can be adjusted. A rubber anti-slip cap 12E is attached to the lower end of the lower pipe 12B. The anti-slip cap 12E prevents the rear leg 12 from slipping on the floor.

  The upper surface of the seat portion 13 is used as a seat surface. As shown in FIG. 4, link attachment seats 45 are respectively provided at the left and right front end portions of the lower surface of the seat portion 13. A pair of left and right front support seats 13 </ b> D is provided in a portion of the lower surface of the seat portion 13 in front of the middle portion in the front-rear direction. A pair of left and right rear support seats 13E are provided on the rear side of the lower surface of the seat portion 13 with respect to the middle portion in the front-rear direction. In a state where the folding chair 10 is unfolded (seatable state), the front support seat 13D is supported on the front support bar 19 of the first frame member 41, and the rear support seat 13E is supported on the rear side of the second frame member 42. Supported on a bar 22. As a result, the seat 13 is stably supported by the left and right first frame members 41 via the front support seat 13D and the front support bar 19, and via the rear support seat 13E and the rear support bar 22. The left and right second frame members 42 are stably supported. In addition, although the material of the seat part 13 is not specifically limited, in this embodiment, the seat part 13 is a plastic blow molded product.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the backrest 14 is attached to the upper portion of the backrest frame 17. A grip hole 14 </ b> A is formed in the backrest 14. The user can lift or move the folding chair 10 with one hand by inserting a finger into the gripping hole 14A and gripping the backrest 14. Although the material of the backrest 14 is not limited at all, in the present embodiment, the backrest 14 is a plastic blow-molded product.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the armrests 15 are respectively attached to the left and right sides of the backrest frame 17. The armrest 15 may be fixed to the backrest frame 17 or may be rotatably attached to the backrest frame 17. When the armrest 15 is rotatably attached to the backrest frame 17, when the user sits on the folding chair 10, the armrest 15 should be lifted upward so that the armrest 15 does not interfere with the sitting operation. Can do. Further, when folding the folding chair 10, the armrest 15 can be prevented from interfering with the folding operation by previously lifting the armrest 15 upward.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the link attachment seat 45 attached to the lower surface of the seat portion 13. As shown in FIG. 12, substantially cylindrical bearing portions 45 </ b> B are formed on the left and right side portions of the link mounting seat 45. A circular hole 45A is formed inside the bearing portion 45B. An elastic protrusion 45C is provided between the left and right bearing portions 45B and 45B. The elastic protruding piece 45C is formed in a cantilever substantially plate shape in which a left side, a rear side, and a right side are cut out. The elastic protrusion 45C has a protrusion 45D protruding downward. A slit groove 45E extending in the left-right direction is formed behind the elastic protrusion 45C, and the elastic protrusion 45C and the slit groove 45E are arranged in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the link mounting seat 45 is made of plastic. However, it is of course possible to form the link mounting seat 45 with a material other than plastic.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the link 24 is bridged between the link mounting seat 45 and the link bar 18. The link 24 links the rotation of the seat 13 with respect to the second frame member 42 and the rotation of the first frame member 41 with respect to the second frame member 42 (see FIG. 8).

  FIG. 10 is a plan view of the link 24, and FIG. 11 is a side view of the link 24. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the root portion 24A of the link 24 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape, and a circular hole 24B through which the link shaft 46 (see FIG. 13) is inserted is formed inside the root portion 24A. Has been. The link shaft 46 is a shaft that rotatably supports the base portion 24A of the link 24 around the horizontal axis, and is supported by the bearing portion 25B of the link mounting seat 45. A pair of left and right link-side protrusions 24 </ b> E are formed on the outer peripheral side of the root portion 24 </ b> A of the link 24.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a link bar locking portion 24 </ b> C and a link bar holding portion 24 </ b> D are provided on the distal end side of the link 24. Each of the link bar locking portion 24C and the link bar holding portion 24D is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape in which the tip side is cut out in a plan view. A substantially circular hole 24C1 having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the link bar 18 is formed inside the link bar locking portion 24C, and the outer diameter of the link bar 18 is substantially equal to the inner side of the link bar holding portion 24D. A substantially circular hole 24D1 having an inner diameter is formed. However, as described above, since the distal end sides of the link bar locking portion 24C and the link bar holding portion 24D are formed in a cutout shape, these substantially circular holes 24C1 and 24D1 are continuous. The distal end portion of the link 24 is formed in a shape opened toward the distal end side.

  In this embodiment, the link 24 is made of plastic. However, the link 24 can be formed of a material other than plastic. The cross-sectional shape of the link 24 is formed in a vertically symmetric and left-right symmetric shape. Thereby, the link 24 is strong against tensile stress and also strong against compressive stress. Further, a rib 24F is provided inside the link 24, and the strength is also improved by the rib 24F. However, the specific shape of the link 24 is not particularly limited, and may not be vertically symmetric, and may not be symmetrical. Further, the rib 24F is not always necessary.

  FIG. 14A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rear end portion of the seat portion 13 of the folding chair 10. A concave portion having a depressed lower side is formed at a central portion in the left-right direction at the rear edge of the seat portion 13, and a handle 25 is provided inside the concave portion. An operation handle 26 is provided below the handle 25.

  The operation handle 26 includes a pair of left and right engaging claws 27, a connecting rod 28 having an L-shaped cross section spanned between the front end portions (between the front end portions) of the left and right engaging claws 27, and a rear end portion. It is composed of a round bar-shaped grip bar 29 that is stretched over. A shaft 30 is provided at the tip of the outer surface of each engagement claw 27 in the operation handle 26. The operation handle 26 is pivoted up and down around the shaft 30 so that the grip bar 29 approaches or separates from the handle 25 when the shaft 30 is pivotally attached to the lower portion of the rear edge of the seat portion 13. It is attached. Further, the grip bar 29 is disposed in parallel with the handle 25 and is disposed so as not to protrude rearward from the rear edge of the seat portion 13.

  A spring 31 is provided between the upper surface of the rear end portion of the engaging claw 27 and the top surface of the recess on the lower surface of the rear edge portion of the seat portion 13. The spring 31 always urges the operation handle 26 in a direction (downward) in which the grip bar 29 is separated from the handle 25. The operation handle 26 biased by the spring 31 engages the engagement claw 27 with the lock bar 20.

  Next, a folding method of the folding chair 10 will be described.

  The folding chair 10 is folded by grasping and lifting the rear edge of the seat 13. When the rear edge of the seat portion 13 is lifted, the seat portion 13 rotates rearwardly up about the rotating seat 13A so that the upper surface of the seat portion 13 is the front side. Then, the front leg portion 11 receives a rearward and downward force from the seat portion 13 via the link 24, and the first frame member 41 rotates with respect to the second frame member 42 about the rotation shaft 23. As a result, the front leg portion 11 and the rear leg portion 12 approach each other, and the folding chair 10 is folded.

  FIGS. 14B and 14C are cross-sectional views in which the rear edge portion of the seat portion 13 at the time of folding is enlarged. Since the grip bar 29 is arranged in parallel with the handle 25, the handle 25 and the grip bar 29 can be gripped when folded (see FIG. 14B). As a result, the grip bar 29 can be moved by applying a force to the entire palm while being a natural operation of grasping the handle 25. Therefore, even a person with a small grip strength, such as an elderly person, can easily operate the grip bar 29.

  As described above, if the grip bar 29 is gripped together with the handle 25, the entire operation handle 26 rotates about the shaft 30 against the biasing force of the spring 31 as the grip bar 29 moves, and the engagement claw 27 And the lock bar 20 are disengaged. At this time, since the left and right engaging claws 27 are connected by the connecting rod 28 and the gripping bar 29, the left and right engaging claws 27 move in conjunction with each other by moving the gripping bar 29, and the lock bar 20 is moved. Each engagement or disengagement operation can be performed reliably at one time.

  Then, after the engagement between the engagement claw 27 and the lock bar 20 is released, the user grasps and lifts the rear edge of the seat portion 13 while holding the handle 25 (see FIG. 14C). . Then, the link 24 causes the front leg 11 to approach the rear leg 12 in conjunction with the seat 13, and the folding chair 10 is folded.

  The folding operation can be performed by simply grasping and lifting the rear edge of the seat 13 with one hand, and it is not necessary to use both hands. That is, when the rear edge portion of the seat portion 13 is grasped and lifted, the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 rotate so that the front leg portion 11 and the rear leg portion 12 approach each other due to their own weights.

  As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, when the folding chair 10 is folded, the root portion 24 </ b> A of the link 24 rotates around the link shaft 46. When the predetermined folding position is reached, the link-side protrusion 24E of the link 24 pushes down the elastic protrusion 45C of the link mounting seat 45 and fits into the slit groove 45E of the link mounting seat 45. Since the protrusion 45D is provided on the elastic protrusion 45C of the link mounting seat 45, once the link-side protrusion 24E is fitted into the slit groove 45E, the link-side protrusion 24E is not elastic unless the force is applied to some extent. It does not get off the slit groove 45E over the protrusion 45D of 45C. Therefore, when the link-side protrusion 24E is fitted in the slit groove 45E, the reverse rotation of the link 24 is restricted, and the folding chair 10 is locked in a predetermined folded state. The predetermined folded state is the state shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the front leg portion 11 and the rear leg portion 12 are separated to a certain extent.

  As shown in FIG. 8, since the horizontal portion 16 of the first frame member 41 and the horizontal portion 21 of the second frame member 42 are rotatably connected, the folding chair 10 in the folded state has a lower end of the front leg portion 11. The portion (cap 11E) and the lower end portion (cap 12E) of the rear leg portion 12 are arranged so as to be spaced apart and aligned in the front-rear direction. For this reason, in the folding chair 10 of this embodiment, it can be made to stand by placing the front leg part 11 and the rear leg part 12 on a floor surface in the folded state. Then, as described above, the link 24 and the link mounting seat 45 can be engaged and locked in a self-supporting state.

  The folding chair 10 in the folded state can be carried by grasping the handle 25 of the seat portion 13. That is, in the folding chair 10 in the folded state, the length from the handle 25 of the seat portion 13 to the lower end of the front leg portion 11 or the rear leg portion 12 is shorter than that in the case of having the backrest 14. Alternatively, the rear leg 12 is difficult to reach the floor. Therefore, even a person who is not strong, such as an elderly person, can easily lift the front leg portion 11 or the rear leg portion 12 so that the front leg portion 11 or the rear leg portion 12 does not reach the floor. You don't have to.

  When the folded folding chair 10 is placed on the floor, a slight impact is applied to the folding chair 10 in some cases. However, since the folding chair 10 of the present embodiment is locked in the folded state by the link 24 and the link mounting seat 45, even if such an impact is applied, the folding chair 10 does not naturally expand from the folded state.

  When the folding chair 10 is unfolded from the folded state, an operation opposite to the above-described folding operation may be performed. When the lower end portion of either the front leg portion 11 or the rear leg portion 12 is pressed against the floor and pushed downward while holding the rear edge portion of the seat portion 13, the link 24 and the link mounting seat 45 While the lock is released, the front leg 11 and the rear leg 12 are separated by the link 24, and the seat 13 is in a horizontal state.

  By the way, for example, when the folding chair 10 is tilted sideways in the folded state and a large force is applied to the front leg portion 11 or the rear leg portion 12 from above, the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 are moved to the front leg portion 11. And the rear leg 12 rotates in a direction closer. As a result, the link bar 18 tends to move further away from the link mounting seat 45, and a relatively large tensile stress is applied to the link 24. However, in this embodiment, since the front end side of the link bar locking portion 24C of the link 24 is open, the link bar 18 is locked to the link bar when the front leg portion 11 and the rear leg portion 12 rotate in a closer direction. It moves from the hole 24C1 to the front end side and comes off from the link bar locking portion 24C. Therefore, an excessive tensile stress is not applied to the link 24, and the breakage of the link 24 is prevented.

  Further, a link bar holding portion 24D is provided on the distal end side of the link bar locking portion 24C of the link 24. Therefore, even if the link bar 18 is disengaged from the link bar locking portion 24C, the link bar 18 remains in the link bar holding portion 24D and does not come off from the link 24 itself.

  In addition, when the lower end part of the front leg part 11 and the lower end part of the rear leg part 12 contact | abut, the further approach with the front leg part 11 and the rear leg part 12 is blocked | prevented. Therefore, the link bar holding portion 24D may be formed to hold the link bar 18 up to the position of the link bar 18 when the lower end portion of the front leg portion 11 and the lower end portion of the rear leg portion 12 abut. .

  The operation of returning the link bar 18 held in the link bar holding portion 24D into the link bar locking portion 24C is performed after the folding chair 10 is folded from the folded state (used state). That is, even when the link bar 18 is held in the link bar holding portion 24D, the base side of the link 24 is rotatable with respect to the link mounting seat 45, and the distal end side of the link 24 is connected to the link bar 18. It is free to rotate. Therefore, the link 24 is rotatable with respect to the seat portion 13 and the front leg portion 11. Therefore, the folding chair 10 can be unfolded from the folded state in the same manner as a normal unfolding operation.

  After unfolding the folding chair 10, a force is applied to the seat 13 from above. For example, the body weight may be added to the seat portion 13 by pushing the seat portion 13 by hand from above or sitting on the seat portion 13. As a result, the seat portion 13 is pushed from above, and a force is also applied from above to the link 24 via the link mounting seat 45. Then, the link 24 slides on the link bar 18, and the link bar 18 moves from the link bar holding part 24D to the link bar locking part 23D. As a result, the folding chair 10 returns to the normal state in which the link bar 18 is located in the link bar locking portion 23D.

  As described above, according to the folding chair 10 according to the present embodiment, when folded, the link-side protrusion 24E of the link 24 engages with the slit groove 24E of the link mounting seat 45 and is locked. Therefore, natural expansion from the folded state is prevented. In the present embodiment, since the link 24 and the link mounting seat 45 constitute a lock mechanism, it is not necessary to add new parts separately in order to constitute the lock mechanism. Therefore, the lock mechanism can be realized without causing the folding chair 10 to be heavy or large.

  In the present embodiment, the link mounting seat 45 and the link 24 are both made of plastic. Therefore, weight reduction of the folding chair 10 can be promoted.

<Modification>
In the present invention, the elastic protrusion of the link mounting seat 45 is not limited to the elastic protrusion 45C. The elastic protrusions of the link mounting seat 45 are pushed by the link side protrusions 24E and deformed by the rotation of the link 24 during folding, thereby guiding the link side protrusions 24E to the grooves 45E, while the link side protrusions 24E are in the grooves 45E. It is sufficient that the material is restored by an elastic force after being fitted in and the movement of the link-side protrusion 24E is restricted in the reverse direction, and the specific shape may be variously modified.

  Further, the specific shape of the link 24 is not limited to that of the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the link bar holding portion 24D of the link 24 sandwiches the link bar 18. However, the link bar holding portion 24D may be one that does not sandwich the link bar 18. As shown in FIG. 16, the link bar holding portion 24D may be formed by extending the distal end side of the link bar locking portion 23D. The link bar holding portion 24D surrounds both sides of the link bar 18 to prevent the link bar 18 from falling off. Although illustration is omitted, the tip end side of the link bar holding portion 24D may not be opened. For example, the left and right tip portions may be connected to each other in the link bar holding portion 24D shown in FIG.

  The folding chair 10 according to the embodiment is folded so that the upper surface of the seat portion 13 faces the front side. In other words, in the folded state, the front end portion of the seat portion 13 is located below the rear end portion. However, like the folding chair currently disclosed by the said patent document 1, this invention may be folded so that the upper surface of the seat part 13 may face the back side. That is, the present invention can be applied to a folding chair in which the front end portion of the seat portion 13 is positioned above the rear end portion in the folded state.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for a folding chair used in a bathroom or the like.

It is a front view of the folding chair of use condition. It is a rear view of the folding chair of use condition. It is a top view of the folding chair of use condition. It is a reverse view of the folding chair of use condition. It is a side view of the folding chair of use condition. It is sectional drawing of the folding chair of use condition. It is a front view of the folding chair of a folding state. It is sectional drawing of the folding chair of a folding state. It is sectional drawing of a folding chair when a front leg part and a rear leg part approach too much. It is a top view of a link. It is a side view of a link. It is a perspective view of a link attachment seat. It is a perspective view of a link. (A)-(c) is sectional drawing which shows operation at the time of folding of a folding chair. (A) is sectional drawing of the link side protrusion and elastic protrusion at the time of lock release, (b) is sectional drawing of the link side protrusion and elastic protrusion in a locked state. It is a top view of the link concerning a modification. It is a side view of the folding state of the conventional folding chair.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Folding chair 11 Front leg part 12 Rear leg part 13 Seat part 13A Rotating seat (2nd connection part)
14 Backrest 15 Armrest 16 Horizontal portion of the first frame member 18 Link bar 21 Horizontal portion of the second frame member 23 Rotating shaft (first connecting portion)
24 link 24E link side protrusion 41 first frame member 42 second frame member 45 link mounting seat 45C elastic protrusion (elastic protrusion)
45E Slit groove (groove)

Claims (3)

A pair of left and right first frame members having a front leg portion and a horizontal portion extending rearward from the upper end of the front leg portion;
A pair of left and right second frame members having a rear leg portion and a horizontal portion extending forward from an upper end of the rear leg portion and coupled to the first frame member so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis;
One of the first frame member and the second frame member is connected to a frame member so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, and is connected to a horizontal portion of the first frame member and a horizontal portion of the second frame member. A supported seat,
A link bar extending in the left-right direction from the other frame member of the first frame member and the second frame member;
A link mounting seat provided on the back side of the seat,
One end is connected to the link bar so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis, and the other end is attached to the link mounting seat so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis. A link for interlocking relative rotation between the first frame member and the second frame member;
Folding chair with
The other end side of the link is provided with a link-side protrusion that pivots around the horizontal axis when the other end side of the link rotates around the horizontal axis,
The link mounting seat is formed with at least a groove extending in the left-right direction and an elastic protrusion adjacent to the groove in the front-rear direction,
A folding chair that is locked in a folded state when the other end side of the link rotates when folded, and the link side projection pushes down the elastic projection and fits into the groove. A pair of left and right first frame members having a front leg portion and a horizontal portion extending rearward from the upper end of the front leg portion;
A pair of left and right second frame members having a rear leg portion and a horizontal portion extending forward from the upper end of the rear leg portion;
A seat portion supported by the horizontal portion of the first frame member and the horizontal portion of the second frame member;
A link bar extending in the left-right direction from the front leg portion of the left and right first frame members;
A first connecting part for connecting a midway part in the front-rear direction in the horizontal part of the first frame member and a midway part in the front-rear direction in the horizontal part of the second frame member, so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis;
A second connecting portion that connects the front end portion of the horizontal portion of the second frame member and the seat portion so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis;
A link mounting seat provided on the back side of the seat portion and on the front side of the second connecting portion;
A link having one end rotatably connected to the link bar around a horizontal axis and the other end rotatably connected to the link mounting seat around a horizontal axis;
Folding chair with
The other end side of the link is provided with a link-side protrusion that pivots around the horizontal axis when the other end side of the link rotates around the horizontal axis,
The link mounting seat is formed with at least a groove extending in the left-right direction and an elastic protrusion adjacent to the groove in the front-rear direction,
A folding chair that is locked in a folded state when the other end side of the link rotates when folded, and the link side projection pushes down the elastic projection and fits into the groove. The folding chair according to claim 1 or 2,
The link mounting seat and the link are folding chairs made of plastic.

Images